Rail-jack and the like.



PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

F. OBELHARDT. RAIL JACK AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17,1905.

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FRANZ OBELHARDT, OF FUERTH, GERMANY.

RAIL-JACK AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed February 17, 1905. Serial No- 246,118.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ OBELHARDT, station-master, (whose post-ofliceaddress is No. 8 Gebhardtstrasse, Fuerth, Bavaria, in the Empire ofGermany,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in orRelating to RaiLJacks and the Like; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention relates to an improved lifting-jack especially adapted forlifting railroad-iron, such as rails and the like, and has for itsobject the provision of a lifting member which after performing itsfunction may be readily disengaged from the rail or other part while thesame is suspended.

To this end the invention consists of a supporting-frame provided withsuitable operating means, together with a rack or the like, adaptedby-said means to be raised and low ered, said rack carrying ahook-shaped member mounted to swing and to norma 1y occupy a lifting orengaging position, there being also provided a lever and lifting-chainfor swinging the hook into a non-engaging position. min the drawings,Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of my invention, showing the same inconnection with a railroad-rail. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the hook andrack-bar.

There is shown a main supporting structure comprising standards it and ahousing h. A bar (1, provided with teeth and having in its upper end aneye, travels vertically through the casing and is operatively engagedtherein by a train of gears, as shown, which are operated by a crank jand a pawl and ratchet y" and j The hook I) is pivotally secured to thelower end of the rack-bar (1, preferably by means of links a and pins 0c in a manner to maintain said hook in a normally vertical or liftingposition and permit the same to be swung laterally into an inoperativeposition. The hook I) is provided with a recess g, adapted to engage aprojection or angular fish or rib which may be provided to prevent therail from slipping off the hook. The means for swinging said hook in themanner described consists of a hook-detaching lever e, pivotally mountedupon one of the standards It and provided between its ends with anopening or slot through which a lifting-chain is inserted, the latterhaving a ring Q1 to prevent the same from being entirely withdrawn fromengagement with the lever. The opposite end of said chain is secured tothe hook I) in any suitable manner.

In the operation of lifting a railroad-rail or the like the hook I) isengaged therewith, as shown in Fig. 1, and the crank j is turned toimpart to the rack-bar d a vertical movement through the gearing, aswill be seen by reference to Fig. 1. hen it is desired to disengage thehook from the rail, the operator grasps the lever e and raises it to theposition shown in dotted lines, thereby serving to swing the hooklaterally and disengage it from the rail, as shown. The chain is securedto the lever in a manner to permit the operator to grasp the ring 1' andadjust the hook I) to any angular position in the operation of engagingit with the object to be raised. This feature is of great practicaladvantage. When there is no load imposed u' on the hook, it can be farmore convenient y swung or adjusted by means of the chain than by raisinthe lever c. On the other hand, when a 10a is imposed upon the hook theoperator gains in leverage by using the lever e.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A lifting-jack comprising an operating gearing, a hook operativelyconnected therewith, the hook portion being mounted to swing, ahook-detaching lever, and a chain secured to said hook and slidablyconnected with said lever.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANZ OBELHARDT. Witnesses:

ALEX WIELE, T MAX SCHNEIDER.

